Sterilizer



March 7, 1950 Filed March 26, 1946 D. A. WAGNER STERILIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet l mmvrozz. Den 6y Wayner mmvrok.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. A. WAG N E R STERILIZER 60 Mo 0 O0 00 O0 00 00 0O 0O 00 WW///////////////////v// March 7, 1950 Filed March 26, 1946 Den 6y Mgner BY WM 7% ATT'YS Patented Mar. 7, 1950 STERILIZER Dewey A. Wagner, Fort Thomas, Ky.

Application March 26, 1946, Serial No. 657,101

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in sterilizing devices and is particularly directed to a sterilizer for use in barber and beauty shops, or doctors oflices.

It is well known that a definite, minimum period of time is required for a particular sterilizing fluid to effectively destroy bacteria and other micro-organisms on articles subjected to its action. Quite frequently, and particularly at a time when an operator is busy, the sterilization of his instruments is neglected, or he fails to place them in the sterilizing fluid for the requisite period of time thereby subjecting succeeding patients or customers to potential infections. The normal use of the present device includes the employment, by the operator, of two complete sets of instruments to the end that while one set is presented for use by the device the other will be under sterilization. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide in a sterilizer a pair of instrument sterilizing mechanisms which are.

oppositely actuated so that one mechanism assumes an instrument sterilizing position whilst the other mechanism is in an instrument dispensing position, each of said mechanisms having a positive acting closure for precluding the removal of the instruments under sterilization until the sterilizer is operated to reverse the positions of the mechanisms.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sterilizing device having the foregoing features an eflicient means for heating the sterilizing medium in each mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified, accessible means for removing from my sterilizing cabinet the cooperating instrument trays and the pans for containing sterilizing fluid so that they may be readily and regularly cleaned.

-A still further object of the invention is to provide a compact sterilizing device'of the above mentioned character which has a' durable and simplified construction, is efiicient in use, attractive in appearance and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, said invention consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental, cross-sectional view taken through the transverse center of my sterilizer, the parts of the sterilizing mechanism shown on the right hand side thereof being illustrated in Fig. 4 is an electrical wiring diagram for my sterilizer, mechanical parts therein being also shown diagrammatically.

My sterilizing device comprises a cabinet 1 having a top wall 8 integrally united with side Walls 9 and ID, a rear wall, I l and a front'wall 12..

The bottom of the cabinet is closed by a base l3 which is secured to the lower edges of the side,

end and front walls by countersunk screws I4..

Spaced openings l5 and I6 are formed through the top wall of the cabinet and a marginal depression I1l8 is formed in the top around each opening l5-i6 respectively. A pair of open topped, rectangularly shaped instrument trays H? are carried by the top wall of the cabinet and as illustrated in Fig. 1, the trays are provided with a flange 2E! extending outwardly from the four side walls thereof adjacent the open top. These flanges serve to position each tray centrally of its respective opening for the purposes to be described hereinafter.

The lower halves of each of the instrument trays side walls are provided with perforations 2|. A pan 22 for the reception of sterilizing fluid 23 is disposed beneath each of the trays and is adapted for vertical reciprocation between a lower instrument dispensing position indicated on the left-hand side of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3, and an upper instrument sterilizing position indicated in the right-hand side of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2.

A drive means for vertically reciprocating the pans in opposite directions comprises a motor 24 mounted upon the base [3 and enclosed in an air tight housing 25. The motor drives a crank shaft 26 which has radially extending from its ends oppositely projecting, crank arms 2! and 28. As the two mechanisms for connecting the crank, arms to their respective sterilizing pans are identical in construction, a description of one of said mechanisms will be set forth, it being under-. stood that the remaining mechanism operates in the same manner, but in an opposite direction. The crank arm 21 is rotatably connected to a horizontal rod 280, said rod freely engaging the outer end of a crank arm 29 which is journaled in a standard 30 mounted upon the base. A pair of links 3| -32 are pivoted in spaced relationship on the rod 280 and at their upper ends are freely pinned to ears 33 and 34 extending upwardly from a carrier 35.

The carrier has a bottom wall 36, side walls 31 and 38, back wall 39 and a front wall 40, said carrier being adapted to snugly receive the lower portion of the sterilizing pan 22. The carrier is held in a. level positionduring reciprocating movement by meansof a'guide which takes the form' of an elongated bracket 4| fixed to the carrierby welding, or the like; and having its upper and lower ends turned outwardly intoapertured cars 42 and 43 for receiving a guide rod. The guide lever 48 pivoted intermediate its ends on standard I.

49 supported by the base 13 and having an elongated slot 50 formed in one end for engaging the rod 28 for the crank arm 21. The free end'ofithe" lever is pivoted to the lower end of a connecting rod the upper end of said rod passingthrough an opening 52 in the top'wall of the cabinet and being pivotally fastened atitsupper end-to the closuremember'45-by a loose'rivet 53'.

The crank shaft 26 of the motor 24- is adapted to: make a one-hair /2) revolution with each throw'of a.- double pole, double throw-switch 54' and Fto this end the'motor circuit is controlled by two normally closed-switches 55 and 56, located withinthe housing -and alternatelyactuated by arms 58 -and59=respectively. Asindicated in Fig. 4; wh'en'the switch fl is in its full 1ine.-position, switch is-closed and completesa circuit to the motor 24'fi-om'a'source'of electricity 51. Upon a one -half /20' revolution-o1 the crank shaft ZB, the-arm5'5will open switch 55 and stop themotor, whereby the crank= arms =21" and 28 will be in vertical positions and the sterilizing pans will be in opposite sterilizing and r dispensing I positions; Duringsaid crankshaft rotation arm-59 has ro=- tated to its -upWard1y-' projecting position and switch SG -has closed. Manual rotation of the switch 54 to its dotted line position will then complete-a circuit to the motor 24' through switch 56 thereby completing the-cycle of th motor control.

The switch'54=inay*bemanually operated exteriorly of the-cab'inet by a switch lever 60 which is connected to the switch 54 by a rotatable shaft 6|. A' pedal control for the-switch 54-compri'ses'a flexible cableSZ connected to the shaft fi lby a pair of beveled gears generally indicated at 63; The lower end of'the cable is connectedwith-a pair of beveled gears 64 whichin turn is connected to a-lever'65-"reciproca-blein-a horizontal plane and adapted to be moved by the *foot of an operator.

-Wheneach instrument 'tray'and sterilizing pan are in'their adjacent sterilizing'positions indicated at'the right-handside of Fig.1 and in Fig. 2- the sterilizing fluid is heated by'means of electric heating coil units Bil -61. These heating coils are-imbedded' in insulatingrmateriai whiclrissen cured by anysuitable means to the bottom oi'the carriers; and as most'flclearlyj illustrated in Fig; 4, the" heating coils 1 are alternately connected to the source of supply 51 upon each tone-half;

revolution of'the-crank 26. I The crank-arm 21 engages normally closed switch 58 when it: is in itstdownwardly: extending aposition illustrated in Fig. Le The closing'; of said switch connects. the heater '6'! to the source aofxsupply through a'-ther' mostat 69 when the carrier for saidiheater is'in its upper sterilizing position. When: the crank shaft has been'turned a one halfrevolution from the position .7 indicated 1 diagrammatically in Fig; 4, thefcranlcarmi28rwill close anormally opened switch .1 0, therebyrintroducing a :current through the: heater coil. 66. whenzits carrier; is in; the' uDpensterilizmgr-position:

' It wilLthereforerberenoted that whenxthezsterile izing'i'pansihavevbeemaltemately :raised' to their sterilizing positionsrelative:toztheirrespective. in",

-i ii strument trays, so that sterilizing fluid 23 enters the trays through the perforations 2| formed in the latter, the lever mechanism controlling the closure member securely holds said member in closed position so that instruments cannot be removed from the tray. In this position also I have provided means whereby the heating element for the pan is actuated thereby effecting a saving in electric current consumption.

It will also be understood that the trays 19 for my device are positioned centrally of the openings I 5:.and Hirformed in the top wall of the cabinet 8 by means of the cooperation between the marginal depressions I1 and I8 respectively surrounding the openings and which receive the flanges 28 of the trays: Manifestly the trays may be readily removed from the-cabinet and it will further be noted that'the plan dimensions of the pans 22 are less than the dimensions of the openings l5 and 16 so thatupon removal of the'trays from said openings the pans may be raised from their respective carriages through said openingsfor cleaning purposes.

What is claimed'is:

1. In a. sterilizer the combination of 1 a cabinet, 2. perforate tray mounted in the cabinet, a pan for sterilizing fluid disposed within the cabinet subl'acent the tray and adapted for-telescopic reception of saidtray, a'closure member for the tray, drive means for vertically reciprocating the pan,v and a closure-actuating means connected with the drive means for alternately moving the closure to opened and closed positions relative to thetray.

2. In aisterilizer the combination of a cabinet, a perforate tray mounted in the :cabinet, a pan forsterilizing fluid disposed within'the cabinetsubjacent the tray and adapted for telescopic reception of said'tray, vertical guidemeans for the 'pan, a closure member for the tray hingedly mounted upon the cabinet, a crank mounted within'the cabinet, a drive mechanism for the crank, linksrfor connecting th crank end to thepan, a lever within the cabinet slidably associated with the crank, a' connecting rod pivoted tothe'end of the bell crank, and imeans for pivotally. connecting the upper end of the rod to the closure member.

3; In a. sterilizer the" combination of a cabinet, a perforate tray mounted in the cabinet, a. carrier disposed beneath the tray, vertical guide means for the carrier, at pancfor sterilizing fluid disposed upon the carrierzbeneath the tray and:

adaptedfor. telescopictreception of said tray, a closurememberxfor the tray hingedly mounted uponthezcabinet, a crank mounted within the cabinet, azdrive 'mechanismior the crank, links for connecting the vcrank to the carrier, a lever within the cabinet slidably associated withxthe crank; a connecting rod pivoted to the free end of the lever, and means-for pivotally' connect- ;ng the upper end of the rod to the closure mem- 4. In asterilizerrthe combinationiof acabinet having a-top, side: and end-walls, anopening formed in the cabinet top, a marginal depression formed intthe top'aroundthe openingtherein, a perforate instrument tray having a flange extending outwardly therefrom and: receivable in the marginal depression; a verticallyreciprocated carrier disposed beneath the tray, a panhfor the reception iorrsterilizingrfluid :removably, mounted upon the carrier and surrounding thezbottomx portion of the tray, said'pan having smallerplan dimensions than the opening in thetcabmetJtopwhereby the pan can be removed through the opening upon the removal of the tray therefrom.

5. In a sterilizer the combination of a cabinet, a pair of perforate instrument trays mounted in spaced relationship in the cabinet, a pan for sterilizing fluid disposed within the cabinet subjacent each tray and each adapted for telescopic reception of its respective tray, a closure member for each tray, drive means for vertically reciprocating the pans in opposite directions, and closure actuating means connected to the drive means for alternately moving the closures to opened and closed positions.

6. In a sterilizer the combination of a cabinet, a pair of perforate instrument trays mounted in spaced relation in the cabinet, a pan for sterilizing fluid disposed within the cabinet sub-' jacent each tray and each adapted for telescopic reception of its respective tray, a closure member for each tray, drive means for elevating one pan to a sterilizing position and simultaneously lowering the other pan to an instrument dispensing position, and closure actuating means associated with the drive means for covering each tray with its closure when the respective pan is in a sterilizing position.

7. In a sterilizer the combination of a cabinet, a pair of perforate instrument, trays mounted in spaced relation in th cabinet, a pan for sterilizing fluid disposed within the cabinet subjacent each tray and each adapted for telescopic reception of its respective tray, a closure member for each tray hingedly mounted upon the cabinet, a crank shaft mounted within the cabinet, a motor for the shaft, a pair of crank arms mounted on the shaft and extending in opposite directions therefrom, means for de-energizing the motor when one pan is in an upper sterilizing position and the opposed pan is in a lower instrument dispensing position, links for connecting each crank arm with a pan, a lever slidably associated with each crank arm, a connecting rod pivotally fastened to the free end of each rod, and means for pivotally securing the upper end of each rod to its respective closure member.

8. In a sterilizer the combination of a cabinet, a pair of perforate instrument trays mounted in spaced relation in the cabinet, a pan for sterilizing fluid disposed within the cabinet subjacent each tray and each adapted for telescopic reception of its respective tray, a closur member for each tray hingedly mounted upon the cabinet, a crank shaft mounted within the cabinet, a motor for the shaft, a pair of crank arms mounted on the shaft and extending in opposite directions therefrom, means for de-energizing the motor when one pan is in an upper sterilizing position and the opposed pan is in a lower instrument dispensing position, links for connecting each crank arm with a heating element, a lever slidably associated with each crank arm, a connecting rod pivotally fastened to th free end of each rod, means for pivotally securing the upper end of each rod to its respective closure member, a thermostatically controlled heating element for each pan, and means responsive to the upper position of each pan for energizing said pan.

9. In a sterilizer the combination of a cabinet, a perforate instrument tray stationarily mounted in the cabinet, a pan for sterilizing fluid disposed within the cabinet subjacent the tray for vertical movement between an operative sterilizing position surrounding the instrument tray and an opposed nonsterilizing position remote from said tray, drive mechanism for reciprocating the pan between its said sterilizing and nonsterilizing positions, and a positive closure actuating means synchronized with the drive means for alternately closing and opening the member when the pan is in said sterilizing and nonsterilizing positions respectively.

10. In a sterilizer the combination of a cabinet, a perforate instrument tray stationarily mounted in the cabinet, a pan for sterilizingfiuid disposed within the cabinet subjacent the tray for vertical movement between an operative sterilizing position surrounding the instrument tray and an opposed nonsterilizing position remote from said tray, drive mechanism for reciprocating the pan between its said sterilizing .and nonsterilizing positions, a positive closure actuating means synchronized with the drive means for alternately closing and opening the member when the pan is in said sterilizing and nonsterilizing positions respectively, electric heating meansfixed beneath the pan, a power switch for the heating means, and means made operative when the pan is in its sterilizing position for closing the power switch.

11. In a sterilizer the combination of a cabinet, a perforate instrument tray stationarily mounted in the cabinet, a pan for sterilizing fluid disposed within the cabinet subjacent the tray for vertical movement between an operativ sterilizing position surrounding the instrument tray and an opposed nonsterilizing position remote from said tray, drive mechanism for reciprocating the pan between its said sterilizing and nonsterilizing positions, a positive closure actuating means synchronized with the drive means for alternately closing and opening the member when the pan is in said sterilizing and nonsterilizing positions respectively, thermostatically controlled, electric heating means fixed beneath the pan, a power switch for the heating means, and means made operative when the pan is in its sterilizing position for closing the power switch.

DEWEY A. WAGNER.

No references cited.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,499,891 March 7, 1950 DEWEY A. WAGNER It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: I

Oolumn 4, line 46, for the words bell crank read lever; column 5, line 61, for heating element read pan; column 6, line 7, for pan read heating element;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and-sealed this 4th day of July, A. D. 1950.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

